Homeowners are now being offered free solar panels to drive down their energy bills following the success of a scheme for council house tenants.

Some 3,500 tenants across the Potteries have signed up so far, with 750 already receiving clean energy and cheaper electricity and gas bills. As well as having the PV panels installed, they can benefit from energy storage units, smart meters and LED technology.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council was the first local authority in the country to approve the programme, which sees renewable energy provider Solarplicity design, install, operate and maintain its renewable technology at no cost to tenants or the council.

Now it is being opened up to 120,000 private homes across the city too.

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Those taking part get their energy supplied by Solarplicity, which sends them their energy bills. It can lead to a substantial discount because much of the energy used to power their home comes through the technology, which is supplied by the company free of charge.

Solarplicity says the programme has the potential to reduce energy bills by around £300 per household every year – which could add up to an overall annual saving of £5.4 million a year for the city, or £135 million over 25 years.

Tim Day, head of community energy at Solarplicity, said: “This is the first of its kind in the UK and the roll-out has gone really well. We didn’t know if tenants would want it, but the reaction has been really positive. It is saving people money and they are doing their bit for the environment.

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“It is a totally unique solution that will save tenants and homeowners money and improve the housing situation for thousands of people in Stoke-on-Trent and across the country.”

Since the scheme was first introduced to the city in May, Solarplicity says it has been able to recruit 32 new workers from the area, with dozens more jobs up for grabs.

In addition, the company says its programme will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the city council-owned housing estate, in line with targets set by the Government for social housing landlords.

Roofers Lee Shepherd and John Mtikira install solar panels at a house in Birches Head

Solarplicity says that opening up the scheme to private homes will mean mortgage-holders will receive a similar efficiency boost – and will contribute towards making the area greener and more energy efficient.

Council tenant Stewart Lewis, from Birches Head, is the latest to see solar panels fitted to his home. The 82-year-old said: “We have signed up because it pushes our energy bills down by quite a considerable amount.

“We are doing our bit for the environment and I’m even using it to charge my mobility scooter.”

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Councillor Anthony Munday, the city council’s cabinet member for a greener city, development and leisure, said: “This ticks every box you can think of. People are saving money and we are producing green energy.

“We all admire David Attenborough and it’s obvious we are gradually destroying the planet. This is the sort of thing that we need to do. I’m thinking about my children and grandchildren.

“The take-up has been really good and I’m told that, by next April, there should be more than 7,000 people signed up for it.”

Chris Hewett, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association (STA), said: “It’s exciting to see a package of solar, battery storage and energy efficiency being offered via social landlords in this way.